Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 20th century (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
c30 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) was founded by Henry W Featherstone (1894-1967) of Birmingham (President of the Section of Anaesthetics of the Royal Society of Medicine, 1930-1931), who became its first President at the inaugural meeting at the premises of the Medical Society of London in 1932. It was founded at a period when specialist training in anaesthesia was virtually non-existent. One of the Association's objectives was to promote progress and safety in the practice of anaesthesia by improving the expertise, training and status of anaesthetists, so ensuring the safety and comfort of patients in the operating theatre. It now represents anaesthetists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, and some overseas members, but although it is often consulted by government bodies it has no direct statutory powers. The maintenance of academic standards is the responsibility of the Royal College of Anaesthetists. At the time of its foundation the Association was the only representative organisation, and it played an important role in developments including the introduction of the first specialist qualification, the Diploma in Anaesthetics (DA) in 1935, and the expansion of the specialty during World War Two (1939-1945). Publication of its journal Anaesthesia began in 1946. It played a part in the founding of the Faculty of Anaesthesia of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (1947), which later became the Royal College of Anaesthetists. It was involved in negotiations about the status of the specialty preceding the inception of the National Health Service (1948); in the founding of the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (1959); and establishment of the Junior Anaesthetists' Group in 1967 (renamed the Group of Anaesthetists in Training in 1991). The Association holds scientific meetings and provides a forum for clinical and academic discussion; promotes and undertakes research; and promulgates its political views both independently and through the British Medical Association. In addition to the journal Anaesthesia it produces the newsletter Anaesthesia News. The Association was granted the right to bear arms by King George VI in 1945. The Association moved from its offices in the British Medical Association House, Tavistock Square, to new headquarters at no 9 Bedford Square, London, which was acquired in 1985 and opened in 1987. In 2002 its members numbered over 8,000.
Some of these photographic images were acquired for use in exhibitions by the Association and subsequently retained.
Archival history
GB 2127 AAGBI PHOTOGRAPHS 20th century Sub-fonds of ASSOCIATION OF ANAESTHETISTS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND c30 boxes Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland
The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) was founded by Henry W Featherstone (1894-1967) of Birmingham (President of the Section of Anaesthetics of the Royal Society of Medicine, 1930-1931), who became its first President at the inaugural meeting at the premises of the Medical Society of London in 1932. It was founded at a period when specialist training in anaesthesia was virtually non-existent. One of the Association's objectives was to promote progress and safety in the practice of anaesthesia by improving the expertise, training and status of anaesthetists, so ensuring the safety and comfort of patients in the operating theatre. It now represents anaesthetists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, and some overseas members, but although it is often consulted by government bodies it has no direct statutory powers. The maintenance of academic standards is the responsibility of the Royal College of Anaesthetists. At the time of its foundation the Association was the only representative organisation, and it played an important role in developments including the introduction of the first specialist qualification, the Diploma in Anaesthetics (DA) in 1935, and the expansion of the specialty during World War Two (1939-1945). Publication of its journal Anaesthesia began in 1946. It played a part in the founding of the Faculty of Anaesthesia of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (1947), which later became the Royal College of Anaesthetists. It was involved in negotiations about the status of the specialty preceding the inception of the National Health Service (1948); in the founding of the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (1959); and establishment of the Junior Anaesthetists' Group in 1967 (renamed the Group of Anaesthetists in Training in 1991). The Association holds scientific meetings and provides a forum for clinical and academic discussion; promotes and undertakes research; and promulgates its political views both independently and through the British Medical Association. In addition to the journal Anaesthesia it produces the newsletter Anaesthesia News. The Association was granted the right to bear arms by King George VI in 1945. The Association moved from its offices in the British Medical Association House, Tavistock Square, to new headquarters at no 9 Bedford Square, London, which was acquired in 1985 and opened in 1987. In 2002 its members numbered over 8,000.
Some of these photographic images were acquired for use in exhibitions by the Association and subsequently retained.
Accumulated by the Association of Anaesthetists by various means, including acquisition from various individuals and organisations by donation, purchase, or copying, in addition to material from its own archives. Some photographs are of unknown origin.
Photographic material accumulated by the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI), relating both to the history of the AAGBI and to the wider history of anaesthesia and associated subjects from 1774 to 1997, largely comprising prints and slides, both colour and black and white, some undated, including some copies. The photographs include a series of portraits of the AAGBI Council, members of staff, and the AAGBI Group of Anaesthetists in Training (GAT) Council, and a large series of photographs used in the AAGBI publication Anaesthesia News. The collection also covers a wide range of subjects in the history of anaesthetics, and includes numerous portraits (including some photographic copies of oil paintings) of individual anaesthetists, including many eminent figures such as John Snow, Joseph Clover and Sir Ivan Magill, and various Presidents of the Association; photographs of anaesthetists at work; photographs of places associated with eminent anaesthetists and the history of anaesthetics, including various hospitals; photographs of anaesthetic apparatus of the 19th and 20th centuries, sometimes in use, and of various related medical procedures, including dentistry, obstetrics, and intensive care; photographs relating to A Charles King and his instrument-making business A Charles King Ltd, including its premises at Devonshire Street, London; photographs of the practice of anaesthesia in wartime, including World War One, World War Two and the Gulf War; photographs of documents relating to the history of anaesthesia, including some relating to Queen Victoria; photographs of events including conferences, award ceremonies and social events; photographs of the Association premises at no 9 Bedford Square, London, including its museum; photographs of exhibitions on the history of anaesthetics at no 9 Bedford Square held annually from 1987.
The photographs of the AAGBI Council, members of staff, and the GAT Council are a regular series and continue to accrue.
Access is by appointment with the Archivist only, and in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Records are generally open unless access would contravene the Act.
Subject to copyright restrictions and suitability of the item for copying.
English
Database.
Various.
The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland also holds records deposited by various anaesthetists.
Compiled by Rachel Kemsley as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Sources: Thomas B Boulton, The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland 1932-1992 and the Development of the Specialty of Anaesthesia (Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, London, 1999); website of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland: http://www.aagbi.org (especially sections on the History of Anaesthesia by Dr David Wilkinson and on the AAGBI by Dr T B Boulton); information from Dr David Zuck. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Jun 2002 A Charles King Ltd , anaesthetic instrument makers Anaesthesia Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland Associations Bedford Square Clover , Joseph Thomas , 1825-1882 , anaesthetist Dentistry Devonshire Street England Enterprises Europe Exhibitions Gulf War (1990-1991) Health services History History of medicine Holborn Hospitals Intensive care International conflicts King , Arthur Charles , 1888-1965 , anaesthetic instrument maker London Magill , Sir , Ivan Whiteside , 1888-1986 , Knight , anaesthetist Medical equipment Medical institutions Medical profession Medical sciences Medical treatment Military medicine Museums Obstetrics Organizations Photographs Private enterprises Professional associations Science museums Scientific equipment Snow , John , 1813-1858 , anaesthetist Social sciences Social welfare Specialized museums St Marylebone Surgery Therapy UK Victoria , 1819-1901 , Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India Visual materials War Western Europe World War One (1914-1918) World wars (events) World War Two (1939-1945) Wars (events) Equipment Camden
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Accumulated by the Association of Anaesthetists by various means, including acquisition from various individuals and organisations by donation, purchase, or copying, in addition to material from its own archives. Some photographs are of unknown origin.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Photographic material accumulated by the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI), relating both to the history of the AAGBI and to the wider history of anaesthesia and associated subjects from 1774 to 1997, largely comprising prints and slides, both colour and black and white, some undated, including some copies. The photographs include a series of portraits of the AAGBI Council, members of staff, and the AAGBI Group of Anaesthetists in Training (GAT) Council, and a large series of photographs used in the AAGBI publication Anaesthesia News. The collection also covers a wide range of subjects in the history of anaesthetics, and includes numerous portraits (including some photographic copies of oil paintings) of individual anaesthetists, including many eminent figures such as John Snow, Joseph Clover and Sir Ivan Magill, and various Presidents of the Association; photographs of anaesthetists at work; photographs of places associated with eminent anaesthetists and the history of anaesthetics, including various hospitals; photographs of anaesthetic apparatus of the 19th and 20th centuries, sometimes in use, and of various related medical procedures, including dentistry, obstetrics, and intensive care; photographs relating to A Charles King and his instrument-making business A Charles King Ltd, including its premises at Devonshire Street, London; photographs of the practice of anaesthesia in wartime, including World War One, World War Two and the Gulf War; photographs of documents relating to the history of anaesthesia, including some relating to Queen Victoria; photographs of events including conferences, award ceremonies and social events; photographs of the Association premises at no 9 Bedford Square, London, including its museum; photographs of exhibitions on the history of anaesthetics at no 9 Bedford Square held annually from 1987.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
The photographs of the AAGBI Council, members of staff, and the GAT Council are a regular series and continue to accrue.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access is by appointment with the Archivist only, and in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Records are generally open unless access would contravene the Act.
Conditions governing reproduction
Subject to copyright restrictions and suitability of the item for copying.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland also holds records deposited by various anaesthetists.
Finding aids
Database.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Organizations » Associations
- Medical sciences » Dentistry
- Enterprises
- Exhibitions
- Health services
- History
- Health services » Hospitals
- International conflicts
- Scientific equipment » Medical equipment
- Medical profession
- Medical sciences
- Therapy » Medical treatment
- Museums
- Organizations
- Visual materials » Photographs
- Enterprises » Private enterprises
- Organizations » Associations » Professional associations
- Museums » Specialized museums » Science museums
- Scientific equipment
- Social sciences
- Social welfare
- Museums » Specialized museums
- Medical sciences » Surgery
- Therapy
- Visual materials
- International conflicts » War
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English